HBO's 'Luck' Renewed For Second Season

On the heels of Luck‘s official premiere on Sunday, HBO has renewed the horse racing drama from Michael Mann and David Milch for a 10-episode second season. The series starring Dustin Hoffman had already been working on scripts for Season 2, and production will begin at the end of February. The network had started prep work early because of the small window it has to film at the Santa Anita racetrack where a significant portion of the show is shot. Luck‘s second season will premiere in January 2013. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with the critical response to this beautiful piece of work, and we are very excited about where David and Michael plan to take these incredible characters,” said HBO Programming president Michael Lombardo. Luck‘s first episode, originally previewed after the Boardwalk Empire season finale in December to 1.1 million viewers, drew another 1.1 million in its regular premiere at 9 PM on Sunday. If that were a true series debut, it would be in line with the launches of such softly rated HBO series as Treme (1.125 million) and the now-defunct Bored To Death (1.034 million). Luck was rebroadcast again at 10 PM (711,000) and 11 PM (420,000) for a total of 3.3 million sampling the pilot in the December preview and on Sunday.

Luck is a behind-the-track look at the world of horse racing and gambling’s denizens – owners, trainers, jockeys and gamblers. Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte lead the cast, which also includes Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Richard Kind, Kevin Dunn, Ian Hart, Ritchie Coster, Jason Gedrick, Kerry Condon, Gary Stevens, Tom Payne, and Jill Hennessy. Milch and Mann executive produce the current first season with Carolyn Strauss.

Good news, but then again almost everything gets a second season on HBO. The lack of a mention of the ratings is quite noticeable.

It must have not done too well.

rip van winkle • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

It had a gross audience of 3.3 million viewers

heh • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Eh, that’s a little bit misleading. It lost out to Shameless this last week, though it was the same episode that “previewed” after the Boardwalk Empire finale. But this week’s airing was 1.1 million. Slim pickings. Though if How to Make it in America got renewed once, I guess everything there can and will.

S • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Great to hear. Thank you HBO!

Mike • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

It’ great. Especially after a second viewing. Hard to follow at first and the sound mix like all Michael Mann stuff — he’s deaf — is way off, but it rewards those who stick with it.

Randall • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Agreed, very poor sound mixing done on that pilot.

shadallion • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

High quality show, top to bottom. Will definitely keep watching now that I know it won’t be a one-off season.

holly vet • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Another glorified saga by Milch about an industry not a sport. What happens to the horses (even the winners) does not matter to these misty eyed degenerates. Milch and Hoffman should go along for a ride to the slaughterhouse with some old thoroughbreds it might give them a jolt of humanity.

The more you know • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Actually, if you watch the whole season, it spends a lot of time with a program that saves injured Thoroughbreds. But why bother to get the facts before you condemn.

Thankful • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

LOVED this show, and you can tell its going to get just better and better as the season goes along. Its watching a master class in acting. Thanks HBO….!

Valerie • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

I couldn’t watch after the first episode. Spent my whole life around horses and to see them go down for the sake of gambling and money didn’t set well with me. Love to watch them run and ride them at a run but hate the ugly side of the racetrack. Did anymore horses have to be euthanized after the pilot? The reason they break legs is because they are too young at 2, 3 and 4 to have their legs take the kind of beating and pressure it takes to run at that pace. Its like a juvenile running an Olympic race. The body hasn’t completely developed, the bones in the knees don’t close till their 4. I don’t know if I could watch that again. So tell me did anymore horses have to be put down after the pilot airing?

reader • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

If you’ve spent your whole life around horses why the surprise? “The Sport of Kings” has always had its dark side, and I think this show delves into that with bravery & compassion.
The horses are their own characters in this show, that is part of its power.

Anon • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Hi Valerie,

Unfortunately, I do believe that during the course of the first season’s production, another horse had to be put down.

cable guy • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Enough spin. Luck is INCOMPREHENSIBLE! Can’t wait for this to be cancelled after two seasons so HBO can bring us Milch’s Faulkner oeuvre!!

Alex • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

David Milch hasn’t had a show last more than 3 seasons in 20 years.

brutony • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

This show was bloody slow, meandering, and BORING! I saw the pilot last month during a Special Sneak Peak-lucky me, huh? Unless the second one picks up, I’m DONE!

Ryan in L.A. • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

I agree. It was slow to me. Just a bunch of beauty shots and a story that never gained traction. Maybe I’ll give it another chance though.

Brian • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Milch knows what goes on in slaughterhouses. Try not to parade your ignorance around, cloaked though it may be in showy, kneejerk ighteousness.

James • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

This show is a huge bomb. It’s one thing to let David Simon have his bomb of a show Treme but now they have another one no one will watch and generate no buzz or excitement for the channel. HBO is facing lots of competition for competitors like Netflix and Showtime and this is the boring crap they renew even after it bombs. Thanks for greenlighting Game of Thrones but Michael Lombardo needs to be fired, he doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing. This show was a bomb from the start based on the concept just like Treme and just like the other 2 dramas they’re working on the boxing drama Da Brick and The Corrections. They are more worried about getting big names for HBO shows instead creating shows that people will want to watch. Having such low standards for success by renewing a show like this that isn’t very critically acclaimed and bombs with viewers is not a smart business strategy when facing more competition then ever before. There is no reason for so such low standards when they still have the potential to create big buzz worthy hits like True Blood and Game of Thrones.

Marie • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

I agree with you about Luck. I wonder if it was in the casting call that you had to speak very quietly and mumble because I swear I could not understand 90% of what they were saying. I’m giving it one more episode and then freeing up the timer in the DVD for something different.

However I disagree about Treme. That one has a story, good acting and drama. I’m hooked on that show, I think its excellent.

Fruit • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Luck would be perfectly paired with Treme

Honestly • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Watching the pilot, I had almost no idea what was going on. I was gobsmacked at his incoherent it was. But I hung in there, because I love Dustin Hoffman. By the time it was over, I had managed to figure out the story, at least in the broadest strokes. All I could think is, “Wow, I bet no one tells Milch the truth anymore.” Talk about a man who could use some notes!

Mann O Mann • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

I thought Michael Mann’s “singular vision” – and lack of hearing – was going to tank it for the first 30 minutes. Muddy waters are fatal to Milchean dialogue.

Mann’s deafness also explains why his music taste is stuck in 1986 Miami. But his horserace footage was brilliant, and by the end Milch’s characters were coming through. Look forward to this one –
especially when Mann goes off to make another flop – I mean, epic feature.

JB • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

I can’t wait for the next episode. This is one of the most exciting shows I’ve seen in the long time.

Tvonne • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

I lived the show and am looking forward to the onion being peeled back in so many interesting characters

Glad ti gave Jill Hennessy return to the small screen!

SH • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Loved the pilot and the actors were amazing. All of them. Reminded me of the great ensemble work Mann did with his actors on The Insider.
This show is above everything I have seen in a very long time. I also can tell this show is going to get better and better. Dennis Farina and Kevin Dunn will be in The Emmys race. Can’t wait for next week!

Anonymous • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

The pilot was brilliant in every way. 12 notches above everything else

Amonymous • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

The reviews were excellent. What are you all talking about!

Yvonne • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Great news! Luck is my new must see show. Glad to have a Jill Hennessy return to the small screen with a solud ensemble cast!

Evan • on Jan 31, 2012 9:31 am

Reviews were from bad to mixed. Most of them called it incomprehensible. But they’ll greenlight anything with names, the talent will get free reign to put together something lukewarm to boring, they’ll spin the PR and give them a second season…it’s become all too predictable. David Chase was not a name when he brought them The Sopranos. HBO isn’t developing well crafted shows anymore, they’re just spraying and praying!